The Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge come with a few differences but share many identical specs.
The camera is one of those and is a key focus on both devices. Samsung scaled down the resolution from 16MP to 12MP which has resulted in bigger pixels (1.4µm on the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge compared to 1.12µm on the Galaxy S6).
Couple that with the larger aperture of f/1.7 – which is now also class leading in smartphones – and you’ve got a serious contender for the best camera on a smartphone.
The new Dual Pixel technology is an evolution of Phase Detect auto focusing, and it makes the Galaxy S7 wicked fast in acquiring focus. You can check out the video we took that demonstrates this better than any words could.
But it’s not all about the hardware – Samsung has put lots of work into the software behind the new camera.
For starters there’s Motion panorama which captures the moving subjects in the panorama, instead of just butchering them in the stitching process – it’s like a panoramic video almost.
Another feature, Motion photo, captures a three-second video before you’ve pressed the shutter – it also allows you to preserve a still photo.
The built-in Hyperlapse mode is a first on a Samsung cameraphone as well, and it is a great add-on that makes digitally stabilized time-lapse videos.
For the front-facing 5MP camera there’s Spotlight which accentuates certain facial features in a selfie (Beauty Mode).
There’s also Selfie Flash, which uses the screen as photographic fill-light in low lit environments.
Finally, Wide Selfie captures a panorama with the front-facing camera.
The only thing we’re not sure about is what Smart OIS stands for. There’s no specific mention of optical image stabilization on the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge and the less protruding lens could mean it’s only Electronic image stabilization (EIS). We’ll certainly have to see about that before we pass our final judgement.
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Here's an in-depth look at the Galaxy S7 camera
